Libertarian Party blogshttp://www.lp.org/blog
enLibertarian Andy Craig for Congress Makes Case for Scaling Back FDAhttp://www.lp.org/blogs/staff/libertarian-andy-craig-for-congress-makes-case-for-scaling-back-fda
<div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><p><a href="https://www.facebook.com/AndyCraig2016?_rdr" target="_blank"><img align="right" alt="Andy Craig for Congress" src="https://www.lp.org/files/images/Andy_Craig.jpg" style="border: 1px solid black; margin: 0 0 1em 1em;" title="Andy Craig for Congress" width="200" /></a>Wisconsin Libertarian congressional candidate Andy Craig released the following statement regarding FDA delay of live-saving medical technology:</p>
<h3>How the FDA is killing me: a personal perspective on diabetes and government</h3>
<p>Since I was diagnosed at age thirteen, I have struggled with type I ("juvenile") diabetes and its complications. Like many, I don't always do the best job managing this condition. But like many other diabetics, my life has also been damaged and possibly shortened by the Food and Drug Administration.</p>
<p>Diabetes management is largely a matter of balancing food consumed with insulin injected, to maintain blood sugar levels within an acceptable healthy range. Prior to the invention of insulin injections in 1920, a diagnosis of type I diabetes was universally fatal, usually within a matter of weeks. Today, I and many other diabetics use an insulin pump to keep us alive. This pager-sized device fits into my pocket, and I wear it at all times. It provides a steady drip of insulin, and larger doses at meal times, more closely mimicking an undamaged pancreas than traditional injections. It is, in my opinion, a miracle of modern medical technology.</p>
<p>However, even with the essential aid of glucometers to monitor blood sugar levels, it still boils down to an “eyeball it and guess” method of self-medication. It’s not ideal medical precision, and that shows in the large number of preventable hospitalizations and deaths each year from type I diabetes. The main obstacle to better diabetes management is not the availability of tools and medications for the job; it is the fallible human being who has to make these daily decisions.</p>
<p>There exists a device that could do this task better and easier. It is called an “artificial pancreas.” The artificial pancreas is not some kind of lab-grown human organ. It’s actually just a regular insulin pump, paired with another existing technology called continuous glucose monitoring, which checks blood sugar levels every few minutes instead of every few hours. Connect these two devices, and a simple computer program using a mathematical algorithm can manage a patient’s blood sugar levels all on its own, just like a natural pancreas does. It’s not quite fully automated, but it’s close.</p>
<p>Studies have shown up to an 80% reduction in out-of-range blood sugar levels using this type of computerized control, compared to current methods. The technology has also been around for years. The insulin pump I first started using ten years ago is capable of being wired to be an artificial pancreas.</p>
<p>Teenage diabetics who have been allowed to participate in trials with this technology, and their parents, have been reluctant to switch back at the end of the tests. Some patients have even resorted to unapproved “hacking” of their insulin pumps to implement similar features.</p>
<p>So why has this life-saving, and simple, combination of two already-approved devices not available on the market and in widespread use? Thank the federal government. The Food and Drug Administration has repeatedly held back the approval process on artificial pancreas research for years.</p>
<p>That delay has cost billions of dollars in preventable hospitalizations and complications such as organ failure and amputation. The delay can also be directly blamed for thousands of preventable deaths. But the FDA’s incentive isn't to care if their delay cost lives: their only concern is they not approve something that might harm somebody. If artificial pancreases reach widespread use, somebody will misuse it or one will malfunction, and a patient will be killed or harmed by that. That is the unpleasant reality of how medicine works.</p>
<p>The balance of these concerns in this case is overwhelming in this case, but still the FDA continues to delay. If the current policy had been in place in 1921, we’d still be watching children die for another five to seven years, waiting for government approval of insulin injections.</p>
<p>Diabetics aren't the only ones harmed by FDA bureaucracy. Medical innovations across the board are slowed, delayed, sometimes prevented altogether, all of which translates into lives lost. That’s why, if elected, not only would I vote for legislation to fast-track approval of artificial pancreas technology. I would also propose legislation changing how the FDA works, mandating the consideration of reliable, objective estimates of life-years lost and other quantifiable costs due to the length of the approval process. If the FDA seeks to maintain a balance between blocking dangerous drugs and approving life-saving drugs, it must first stop ignoring one side of the equation.</p>
<p>With some states already contradicting the FDA on the legality of drugs ranging from marijuana to experimental treatments for the terminally ill, the FDA’s decision might not be relevant in the long term. But until that occurs, this is a problem Congress needs to address, before the FDA literally costs me an arm and a leg, or worse.</p>
</div></div></div>Tue, 03 Mar 2015 18:37:25 +0000Staff10023 at http://www.lp.orghttp://www.lp.org/blogs/staff/libertarian-andy-craig-for-congress-makes-case-for-scaling-back-fda#commentsGary Johnson at CPAChttp://www.lp.org/blogs/staff/gary-johnson-at-cpac
<div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><p>2012 Libertarian Party presidential candidate Gary Johnson spoke at CPAC, the Conservative Political Action Committee convention, last Thursday and Friday.</p>
<p>Johnson, who also is the head of <a href="https://www.ouramericainitiative.com/" target="_blank">Our America Initiative</a>, participated in a debate on marijuana legalization. He was also panelist for a session entitled <a href="http://ouramericainitiative.tumblr.com/post/111977440409/gov-gary-johnson-to-speak-at-cpac" target="_blank">“Lowering the Boom: When to Stand Up to Rogue Nations.”</a>, in which he succeeded in polarizing the room between the pro and anti-foreign interventionists.</p>
<p>Johnson was also interviewed by Huffington Post during his appearance at CPAC. <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/02/28/gary-johnson-cpac_n_6776314.html" target="_blank">Click here to read the interview.</a></p>
<p>Below is a humorous clip of Johnson during the debate on marijuana legalization:</p>
<p><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="382" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/QNZYLconqvU" width="622"></iframe></p>
</div></div></div>Mon, 02 Mar 2015 21:26:48 +0000Staff10019 at http://www.lp.orghttp://www.lp.org/blogs/staff/gary-johnson-at-cpac#commentsReport on Students For Liberty event http://www.lp.org/blogs/wes-benedict/report-on-students-for-liberty-event
<div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><p><img alt="" hspace="12" src="http://www.lp.org/files/SFL_booth_2015.jpg" style="width: 275px; height: 205px; float: right;" /></p>
<p>I'd like to thank everyone who supported the Libertarian Party's recent outreach efforts at the 2015 International Students For Liberty Conference.</p>
<p>I felt like the Libertarian Party's message was very well received. The students attending the conference had strong libertarian leanings.</p>
<p>I was especially inspired to hear the auditorium full of students cheer when Vicente Fox, former President of Mexico, called for an end to marijuana prohibition.</p>
<p>Here are a few statistics from the event:</p>
<p>Total conference attendance: over 1,700<br />
Attendees who joined the Libertarian Party for free: 317 (around 18% of all attendees)<br />
Libertarian Party T-shirts given: 382<br />
Libertarian Party hats given: 75</p>
<p>We came close to raising the $4,500 we budgeted to pay for this event. Around $3,000 was contributed online <a href="https://secure.piryx.com/donate/uO2ehmy0/libertarian/SFLConference">here</a>, and about $1,500 was contributed on our <a href="http://www.lp.org/contribute">general contribution page</a> or in person. Many thanks to everyone who donated.</p>
<p>In addition to thanking our LPHQ staff for their work, I'd like to thank Libertarian Party volunteers Pranav Badhwar, Andy Bakker, Chris Brookover, John Buckley, Jefferey Carson, Robert Sarvis, and Bridget Ulrich, for working at our booth. I also want to thank LNC members Arvin Vohra and Jim Lark for participating in the breakout sessions.</p>
<p>Students interested in getting active with Students For Liberty are encouraged to <a href="http://studentsforliberty.org/cc/?utm_source=getresponse&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_campaign=alumni_for_liberty_afl&amp;utm_content=ISFLC+Follow+Up+%281%2C700%2B+Attendees%21%29">join the Campus Coordinator Program</a>.</p>
<p>I also encourage Libertarian Party activists to reach out to local Students For Liberty groups and find ways to cooperate.</p>
<p>You can help make more outreach possible by <a href="http://www.lp.org/contribute">contributing today</a>.</p>
<p>Wes Benedict<br />
Executive Director</p>
</div></div></div>Mon, 02 Mar 2015 15:11:51 +0000Wes Benedict10020 at http://www.lp.orghttp://www.lp.org/blogs/wes-benedict/report-on-students-for-liberty-event#commentsFormer Colorado LP candidate Lily Williams interviewed on InfoWarshttp://www.lp.org/blogs/staff/former-colorado-lp-candidate-lily-williams-interviewed-on-infowars
<div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><div id="mug" style="margin: 0px 0px 1em 1em; text-align: center; float: right;"><img alt="Lily Williams" height="223" src="/files/imagepicker/45/lilywilliams_0.jpg" style="border: 1px solid black; border-image: none;" width="213" /><br /><strong>Lily Williams</strong></div>
<p>Lily Williams, who ran for office in Colorado last November as a Libertarian, was interviewed last week on InfoWars.</p>
<p>Ms. Williams discussed growing up in Communist China, Common Core, and gun control.</p>
<p>Ms. Williams ran for the <a href="https://www.lp.org/candidates/liberty-candidates-14/lily-williams" target="_blank">state legislature last year.</a></p>
<p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9AXMmYMyyU0" target="_blank">Click here to watch the interview.</a></p>
<p> </p>
</div></div></div>Thu, 26 Feb 2015 16:51:35 +0000Staff10017 at http://www.lp.orghttp://www.lp.org/blogs/staff/former-colorado-lp-candidate-lily-williams-interviewed-on-infowars#commentsLibertarians Working For You show, with Mike Shipley and Steven Nielsonhttp://www.lp.org/blogs/staff/libertarians-working-for-you-show-with-mike-shipley-and-steven-nielson
<div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><p><img alt="Image" class="imgp_img" height="158" src="/files/imagepicker/45/libertarians working for you_2.jpg" style="float: right;" width="158" />Arvin Vohra will be hosting the show Libertarians Working For You today at 2 pm EST.</p>
<p>Today's guests are Mike Shipley of <a href="http://www.outrightusa.org/" target="_blank">Outright Libertarians</a>, and Steven Nielson, who is Secretary of the <a href="http://www.lpwa.org/" target="_blank">LP of Washington.</a></p>
<p><a href="http://www.voiceamerica.com/show/2300/libertarians-working-for-you" target="_blank">Click here to listen.</a></p>
</div></div></div>Wed, 25 Feb 2015 20:00:23 +0000Staff10018 at http://www.lp.orghttp://www.lp.org/blogs/staff/libertarians-working-for-you-show-with-mike-shipley-and-steven-nielson#commentsTake the poll: Which politicians do you consider to be Big Government?http://www.lp.org/blogs/staff/take-the-poll-which-politicians-do-you-consider-to-be-big-government
<div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><p>What is your opinion about when to consider a politician to be Big Government?</p>
<p><a href="http://www.lp.org/poll/take-the-poll-what-is-your-threshold-for-considering-a-politician-to-be-%E2%80%9Cbig-government%E2%80%9D">Click here to take the poll.</a></p>
</div></div></div>Mon, 23 Feb 2015 20:56:58 +0000Staff10015 at http://www.lp.orghttp://www.lp.org/blogs/staff/take-the-poll-which-politicians-do-you-consider-to-be-big-government#commentsNevada Libertarians help bring down tax-payer funded stadiumhttp://www.lp.org/blogs/staff/nevada-libertarians-help-bring-down-tax-payer-funded-stadium
<div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><p><img align="right" src="https://www.lp.org/files/images/LP%20Nevada%20logo.jpg" width="200" /> Members of the Nevada LP helped in putting a halt to the building of a $200 million publicly funded soccer stadium.</p>
<p>Major League Soccer has decided to pass on granting an expansion team to Las Vegas, at least until 2018, due to uncertainty regarding the taxpayer-funded stadium, <a href="http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2015/feb/12/pro-soccer-passes-las-vegas-stadium-deal-dead/" target="_blank">according to the Las Vegas Sun.</a></p>
<p>Members of the <a href="http://lpnevada.org/" target="_blank">Nevada LP</a> spoke out against a publicly-funded stadium at two City Council meetings last year, <a href="http://www.lp.org/blogs/staff/nevada-libertarians-help-stop-taxpayer-funding-for-new-stadium" target="_blank">and were successful in postponing the vote on appropriating taxpayer funds on the building.</a></p>
<p>In addition, the LPNV activists helped collect signatures to get a referendum, led by city councilman Bob Beers, on the ballot to give voters the chance to oppose the stadium. He and two fellow city council members opposed the stadium, including one who threatened to challenge the incumbent mayor at the polls.</p>
<p><span style="line-height: 1.6em;">LP Nevada </span><span style="line-height: 1.6em;">also emailed their members and </span><span style="line-height: 20.79px;">called </span><span style="line-height: 1.6em;">constituents in Las Vegas.</span></p>
<p>From Nevada LP chair Brett Pojunis: "Today we learned that the MLS has decided to pass on Las Vegas until at least 2018! The main reason why is political uncertainty and the fact that the decision would be up to the voters in April."</p>
<p> </p>
</div></div></div>Thu, 19 Feb 2015 16:45:35 +0000Staff10008 at http://www.lp.orghttp://www.lp.org/blogs/staff/nevada-libertarians-help-bring-down-tax-payer-funded-stadium#commentsnew logo design for Libertarian Partyhttp://www.lp.org/blogs/staff/new-logo-design-for-libertarian-party
<div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><p>Fellow Libertarians,</p>
<p>The Libertarian Party has the strongest platform of any political party, the most principled candidates of any party, and the most beneficial vision of any party. I think it's time that we had the best logo and branding of any political party.</p>
<p>In a few days, we will begin a logo design contest, using the 99designs platform. Designers from all over the country will compete for both the prize money and the prestige of having created an internationally recognized logo.</p>
<p>Following this, we will be updating our website, to make sure our website is just as attractive as our platform is powerful.</p>
<p>If you feel, as I do, that the beauty of our logo and website is a critical part of our outreach, please consider donating to support these efforts. Just <a href="http://LP.org/contribute">click here</a> or go to LP.org/contribute, and type "LOGO" in the comments section.</p>
<p>If you donate $100 or more, we will also send you one of our long-sleeve black libertarian T-shirts!</p>
<p>Available in S, M, L, XL, 2X, and 3X.</p>
<p>Don't forget to type "logo" in the comments section and your shirt size too!</p>
<p>In Liberty,<br />
Arvin Vohra<br />
Vice Chair<br />
Libertarian National Committee</p>
</div></div></div>Thu, 19 Feb 2015 15:21:36 +0000Staff10012 at http://www.lp.orghttp://www.lp.org/blogs/staff/new-logo-design-for-libertarian-party#comments2015 State Conventions (updated)http://www.lp.org/blogs/staff/2015-state-conventions-updated
<div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><p>Below is a schedule of Libertarian state conventions in 2015. Click on the state to get more information. Not all states have conventions every year. Some states have not scheduled their conventions yet. Updates will be posted as they become available.</p>
<p>Saturday, January 24<br /><a href="http://www.azlp.org/events/view.php?id=60">Arizona</a></p>
<p>Friday, February 27 - Saturday, February 28<br />
Postponed <a href="http://www.lp.org/event/libertarian-party-of-pennsylvania-2015-state-convention">Pennsylvania</a> (Pennsylvania postponed till further notice--will not happen February 27-28.)</p>
<p>Saturday, February 28<br /><a href="http://www.lpky.org/state_convention2015">Kentucky</a></p>
<p>Friday, March 6 - Saturday, March 7<br /><a href="http://www.lpgeorgia.com/convention/">Georgia</a></p>
<p>Saturday, March 14<br /><a href="http://lpmaryland.org/event/2015-annual-convention/">Maryland</a></p>
<p>Saturday, March 21<br /><a href="http://njlp.org/njlp-convention">New Jersey</a></p>
<p>Saturday, March 28<br /><a href="http://lpia.org/2015/01/24/lpia-sets-date-for-2015-convention/">Iowa</a></p>
<p>Friday, April 10 - Sunday, April 12<br /><a href="http://www.lpnc.org/2015_lpnc_state_convention">North Carolina</a></p>
<p>Friday, April 17 - Sunday April 19<br /><a href="http://www.lp.org/event/libertarian-party-of-kansas-2015-state-convention">Kansas</a></p>
<p>Saturday, April 18<br /><a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/781174798583852/">New Mexico</a></p>
<p>Friday, April 24 - Sunday, April 26<br /><a href="http://www.meetup.com/lpcolorado/events/219337999/">Colorado</a><br /><a href="http://www.lp.org/event/libertarian-party-of-indiana-2015-state-convention" style="line-height: 20.7999992370605px;">Indiana</a><br /><a href="http://www.meetup.com/libertarian-365/events/219210648/" style="line-height: 1.6em;">Oregon</a></p>
<p>Saturday, April 25<br /><a href="https://www.lpmn.org/2015-state-convention/">Minnesota</a><br /><a href="http://www.lp.org/event/libertarian-party-of-new-york-2015-state-convention">New York</a><br /><a href="http://www.lp.org/event/libertarian-party-of-tennessee-2015-state-convention">Tennessee</a><br /><a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/554091494735256/?notif_t=plan_user_associated" style="line-height: 1.6em;">Wisconsin</a></p>
<p>Friday, May 1 - Saturday, May 2<br /><a href="https://www.lpo.org/take-action/2015-conference">Ohio</a></p>
<p>Friday, May 29, - Saturday, May 31<br /><a href="http://ca.lp.org/blog/archives/5357">California</a><br />
Nevada<br /><a href="http://www.lpwa.org/2015_state_convention">Washington</a></p>
<p>Friday, June 5 - Sunday, June 7<br /><a href="http://www.lpf2015.com/">Florida</a></p>
<p>Friday, July 31 - Saturday, August 1<br /><a href="http://www.lp.org/event/libertarian-party-of-illinois-2015-state-convention">Illinois</a></p>
<p>Saturday, November 7 - Sunday, November 8<br /><a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/1521062751465091/">South Carolina</a></p>
<p>States not holding conventions in 2015:<br />
Virginia.<br />
Louisiana holds conventions every four years (presidential years).<br />
Idaho, Oklahoma and Texas hold conventions in even numbered years.</p>
</div></div></div>Thu, 19 Feb 2015 00:26:06 +0000Staff9954 at http://www.lp.orghttp://www.lp.org/blogs/staff/2015-state-conventions-updated#commentsLibertarians Working For You, with Jason France and Beth Vesthttp://www.lp.org/blogs/staff/libertarians-working-for-you-with-jason-france-and-beth-vest
<div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><p><img alt="Image" class="imgp_img" height="158" src="/files/imagepicker/45/libertarians working for you_0.jpg" style="float: right;" width="158" />Arvin Vohra will be hosting the show Libertarians Working For You today at 2 pm EST.</p>
<p>Today's guests are <a href="http://www.jasonfrance4la.com/" target="_blank">Jason France</a>, who is running for the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education District 6 in Louisiana, and Beth Vest, who is President and CEO of the <a href="http://libertarianwomen.com/" target="_blank">National Organization of Libertarian Women</a>.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.voiceamerica.com/show/2300/libertarians-working-for-you" target="_blank">Click here to listen.</a></p>
</div></div></div>Wed, 18 Feb 2015 18:12:32 +0000Staff10010 at http://www.lp.orghttp://www.lp.org/blogs/staff/libertarians-working-for-you-with-jason-france-and-beth-vest#comments